Appeals court clears opening of Malibu water treatment project

by KPCC Wire Services

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MALIBU — An environmental group's attempt to stop construction of Malibu's much-touted water-treatment project known as Legacy Park was blocked by a state appeals court panel, the city's mayor announced today.

The decision by a panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal cleared the way for an October opening for Legacy Park, the centerpiece of the city's $50 million effort to improve ocean water quality, Malibu Mayor Jefferson Wagner said.

In a decision handed down last week, the justices denied Santa Monica Baykeeper's request to halt construction while the group appeals a Superior Court judge's ruling that the city's environmental report on the project was sufficient.

"We are gratified that the court refused Baykeeper's request so the city of Malibu may continue to move forward with the opening of Legacy Park, a project that's won praise from other environmental organizations for the important contributions it will make in protecting the environment,'' Wagner
said.

"The city is anxious to get this clean water project operational before the next rainy season.''

Officials with Santa Monica Baykeeper could not be reached for comment.

Legacy Park is a project aimed at improving ocean water quality and protecting public health by creating a 15-acre park that will capture up to 2.6 million gallons per day of stormwater and urban runoff flows from the surrounding watershed, so it can be cleaned, disinfected and recycled,
according to city officials.

City officials said Legacy Park will reduce pollution and improve water quality in Malibu Creek, Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach.